Skate wheel for manual skating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A skate wheel for manual skating apparatus includes a structural body, an outer cover and an inner cover. The structural body is formed in an annular shape and has an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface. The outer annular surface has a plurality of ridges formed thereon. The outer cover is coupled on the outer annular surface to cover the ridges and the inner cover is held on the inner annular surface for covering thereof. Through the uneven surface formed by the ridges, separation of the outer cover can be prevented. A structure with a harder inner side and softer outer side also can be formed. When this structure is used for skate wheels of a manual skating apparatus, durability increases and shock absorption effect enhances, thus can provide longer lifespan and improved comfort, and protect users to meet use requirements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wheel structure and particularly to awheel for manual skating apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sport activities are very popular nowadays. With growing awareness ofenergy saving and carbon reduction, a wide variety of manual skatingapparatus such as scooters, in-line skates and skateboards becomeincreasingly fashionable. To provide skating function the manual skatingapparatus have a number of wheels installed beneath the bottom to rolland slide on the ground.

A conventional wheel is made of soft polyurethane (PU) rubber which haselasticity to serve as buffer when in contact with the ground surface toprovide desired shock absorption effect, protect user's knees andimprove comfort during skating.

However, the PU rubber is deficient in strength. When used for a periodof time or the pressure or torsional force is too much, the PU rubbercould crack, fracture or deform.

Hence it still cannot fully meet use requirements, especially to manyyoung people who like the excitement of doing extreme sports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a skate wheelwith improved shock absorption and greater strength to increase lifespanand enhance comfort to meet use requirements.

To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a skatewheel for manual skating apparatus that includes a structural body, anouter cover and an inner cover. The structural body is formed in anannular shape and has an outer annular surface and an inner annularsurface. The outer annular surface has a plurality of ridges formedthereon. The outer cover is coupled on the outer annular surface tocover the ridges. The inner cover is held on the inner annular surfacefor covering thereof.

By means of the structure set forth above, the structural body can bemade of harder and stronger plastics. The outer cover and inner covercan be made of softer PU rubber to form a structure with harder insideand softer outside. When this structure is used for the skate wheels ofa manual skating apparatus, durability improves and shock absorptioneffect enhances, thus can provide longer lifespan and improved comfort,and also can protect users from sports injuries, hence can fully meetuse requirements.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the structural body of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a cross section taken on line 2B-2B in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the present invention aims toprovide a skate wheel for manual skating apparatus that includes astructural body 10, an outer cover 20 and an inner cover 30. Thestructural body 10 is formed in an annular shape and has an outerannular surface 11 and an inner annular surface 12. The outer annularsurface 11 has a plurality of ridges 111 formed thereon and each ridge111 can be formed in a profile with a narrower upper side and a widerlower side. The ridges 111 are arranged annularly on the outer annularsurface 11. The ridges 111 also can be arranged in two rows at the frontand rear sides in a dislocated manner to make the outer annular surface11 form an irregular surface.

The outer cover 20 is coupled on the outer annular surface 11 to coverthe ridges 111. The ridges 111 can increase stability of the outer cover20 when being coupled on the outer annular surface 11. The arrangementof the ridges 111 can he varied, such as in a dislocated arrangement, tofurther increase the coupling stability.

The inner annular surface 12 can have a plurality of recesses 121 eachbeing formed in a profile with a wider shallow portion and a narrowerdeep portion. The inner cover 30 is held on the inner annular surface 12to cover the recesses 121. Through the recesses 121, the stability ofthe inner cover 30 when being held on the inner annular surface 12 canbe increased. Moreover, the sides of the inner cover 30 can formrespectively an installation space 40 to couple with other mechanicalelements.

The inner annular surface 12 can further be extended transversely toform an annular flange 122 with at least one slot 1221 formed thereonand run through by the inner cover 30. In this embodiment, six slots1221 are provided and evenly spaced from each other. With the innercover 30 running through the slots 1221, the coupling stability can befurther enhanced.

Please refer to FIG. 3, when the invention is in use, first, twobearings 50 are inserted into the installation space 40 from two sides;then, an axle 60 is provided to run through the two bearings 50 tocouple with a manual skating apparatus such as a scooter or in-lineskate.

As a conclusion, compared with the conventional techniques, theinvention provides features as follows:

1. The structural body is made of hard plastics, hence providessufficient strength to increase durability, namely, increase thelifespan.

2. The outer cover and inner cover are made of softer PU rubber toprovide desired shock absorption effect and increase use comfort andstability.

3. The structure of harder outer side and softer inner side can bettermeet use requirements of longer life span and more comfort in use.

What is claimed is:
 1. A skate wheel for manual skating apparatus, comprising: a structural body which is formed in an annular shape and includes an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface, the outer annular surface including a plurality of ridges formed thereon; an outer cover coupled on the outer annular surface to cover the ridges; and an inner cover held on the inner annular surface for covering thereof.
 2. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the ridges are arranged annularly on the outer annular surface.
 3. The skate wheel of claim 2, wherein the ridges are arranged in two rows at a front side and a rear side in a dislocated manner.
 4. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the inner annular surface is extended transversely to form an annular flange which includes at least one slot run through by the inner cover.
 5. The skate wheel of claim 4, wherein the annular flange includes at least five slots spaced evenly from each other.
 6. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein the inner annular surface includes a plurality of recesses covered by the inner cover.
 7. The skate wheel of claim 6, wherein each of the recesses includes a wider shallow portion and a narrower deep portion.
 8. The skate wheel of claim 1, wherein each of the ridges includes a narrower upper side and a wider lower side. 